The Value of Classic Literature

Ava Walter, 12th grade

While classic literature may not be everyone's favorite books to read, classic literature continues to be relevant today for a number of reasons: it serves as a constant reflection of human experience, societal concerns, and the nature of the human experience. Classic literature transcends time, displaying insights on human experiences that readers can still relate to today, making the act of reading classics more valuable than we might realize. Classic literature retains its relevance in modern day because it addresses universal themes.

For example, characters from classics such Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and George Orwell's 1984, address aspects of the human experience such as love, conflict, identity, and morality. Each of these recurring themes have remained relevant throughout time, allowing readers to find a connection with characters and content, regardless of different times and settings. Today, all readers can tap into the same emotional truths of the story that still resonate on some level, validating the human experience.

Furthermore, classic literature typically examines societal issues, which can be still relevant today. For example, Charles Dickens' Great Expectations and Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, discuss social class, inequality, and justice, as well as encourage readers to reflect on social issues still prevalent in today's societies. With classics, readers can slowly come to grips with the cause of current societal problems and promote discussion and awareness of social issues.

Classic literature also allows readers to enjoy artful forms of language and engage with language. Engaging with various levels of writing styles, plot and narrative techniques, and literary devices, enhances readers' literary appreciation and enhances their critical thinking skills. Also, engaging in classic literature enriches vocabulary and comprehension, allowing us to better represent our thoughts or ideas in our personal writing or acts of communication.

As a whole, classic literature's relevance can often be attributed to the similarity of universal themes, the examination of societal issues, artful writing, and overall validation of the human experience. By reading and learning to appreciate classic literature, we honor the past, and through this, we continue to deepen our understanding of the human experience in the present.